Fouratt Looks to Defend Crown as Pirates Open at Nittany Lion Invite

STATE COLLEGE, PA. - The Seton Hall women' golf team will open the 2021 fall season on Saturday, September 4 for the first two of three rounds of golf at the Nittany Lion Invitational, hosted by Penn State University.

Tournament Details:
NITTANY LION INVITATIONAL
Host: Penn State University
Location: State College, Pa.
Course: Penn State Golf Courses (White Course)
Course Vitals: Par-72, 6,115 yards
Dates: September 4-5, 2021, Three Rounds

The Course:
Situated deep in the rolling terrain of central Pennsylvania, another world of exhilarating golf awaits you! A place where carefully designed courses harmonize with the natural beauty of the surroundings. A place that will drive you to partake the challenges of the game you love. The Penn State Golf Courses are ready to offer you the very best the game has to offer. Take a trip up our tree-lined drive and experience the finest in course facilities and personalized service. We also offer an award-winning driving-range with the Golf Range Association of America since 2012, with four practice putting greens, a bunker area, and 32 artificial driving range stalls with ample targets on the range.

The relaxing atmosphere continues right off the greens and into the Walker Clubhouse. In this 6,000 sq. ft. facility you'll find a complete Golf Shop filled with the latest in quality golf equipment and merchandise. Let our golf professionals share with you their expertise and answer any of your questions. Next to the Golf Shop is The Nineteenth Hole Cafe. This snack area offers a variety of food and snacks for a quick bite or a relaxing meal. The Cafe's open dining area overlooks the courses and provides the perfect compliments to a round of golf.

The Field:
In addition to Seton Hall and host Penn State, the field is comprised of 12 other teams including: Akron, Boston College, Bucknell, Delaware, Harvard, James Madison, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Rutgers, Towson and Youngstown State. Also in the field is BIG EAST opponent, Georgetown.

The Format:
Teams will play five golfers and count the four lowest scores per round.

The Lineup:
Seton Hall will be bringing the following lineup, in order as indicated, to Penn State.

Sarah Fouratt, Senior
Ginevra Ricciardelli, Sophomore
Margot Bechadergue, Graduate Student
Ludovica Busetto, Junior
Ana Sarrias Pro, Freshman

Individual: Sasha Amelang, Sophomore

Last Time at Penn State:
Sarah Fouratt (Santa Maria, Calif.), former teammate Maddie Sager and High Point's Samantha Vodry all tied as individual champions of the 2019 Nittany Lion Invitational. Fouratt's and Sager's efforts lifted the Pirates to a third-place team finish.

Fouratt tied Seton Hall's par-72 single-round record with a 4-under-par, 68, in the final round. She had only one blemish on an otherwise sparkling round three, a bogey on the par-4, No. 13 hole. She had five birdies and 12 pars to pull even with Sager and Vodry to claim a share of her first individual title. With their 214 scores for the tournament, Sager and Fouratt have set a new three-round, par-72 record low for Seton Hall.

Collectively, the Pirates, coming off a record-breaking second round, shot a 7-over-par, 295, in round three. Coupled with a strong finish by host Penn State, and The Hall slipped from second to a third-place finish. For the three-round event, the Pirates were 14-over-par with a 298-285-295-878, and finish 10 strokes behind the team champion, Pennsylvania. Penn State finished second, two strokes ahead of The Hall. Seton Hall's lone BIG EAST competition, Georgetown, finished at 74-over-par.

Schedule:
The field will play two continuous rounds (36 holes) on Saturday, beginning with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m., and a single, final round on Sunday. Sunday's shotgun start will begin at 8:30 a.m. Seton Hall will be paired with golfers from Boston College and James Madison for the first two rounds.

Results:
Live stats will be available via Golfstat.com. Complete results of each day's events will also be available following competition at SHUpirates.com.